Bayern Munich's sporting director Max Eberl has outlined the club's ambitions and addressed current rumours in a detailed interview with Bild Sport. The 52-year-old spoke on Tuesday about the Champions League target, squad planning and speculation surrounding Jürgen Klopp.
Eberl stressed that winning the Champions League is a clear objective for the next two years. "We want to reach the final and, in the best case, win it. We will do everything for that," said the sporting director. The final in Madrid is the ultimate goal. The team begins the new campaign in the competition on Thursday with a home match against Bodø/Glimt. The full schedule for the coming weeks can be found on our fixtures page.
What is the state of squad planning?
This summer, Bayern Munich deliberately signed young talents like Ismael Saibari, Nathaniel Brown and Bara Sapoko Ndiaye. At the same time, established players such as Nicolas Jackson, Leon Goretzka and Raphaël Guerreiro left the club in the past two years. Eberl sees the squad as well-equipped to remain competitive internationally, even against the financially powerful Premier League clubs. A look at the current squad list shows the depth of the team.
Special attention is paid to contract lengths. Both 33-year-old Harry Kane and 24-year-old Michael Olise are under contract until 2029. Olise's deal also contains no exit clause, increasing planning security. The contracts of sporting director Christoph Freund, which expires next summer, and scout Nils Schmadtke, considered one of Germany's best cadre planners, are also part of the strategic considerations.
What did Eberl say about Jürgen Klopp?
Eberl firmly dismissed rumours of a possible return of Jürgen Klopp to Bayern Munich. "That is bullshit! That is a far-fetched story that I cannot comprehend," said the sporting director. Klopp has been the head coach of the German national team since this year. Eberl himself had worked at Borussia Mönchengladbach and RB Leipzig before returning to Munich and initially had to prove himself at Bayern.
How does the club support its players?
Bayern Munich takes intensive care of its key performers. For example, Jamal Musiala, after collapses during pre-season, is now receiving adjusted medication and more rest periods. The goalkeeper position is also being considered long-term: Jonas Urbig is seen as a potential successor to Manuel Neuer both at the club and for the German national team. Current squad information and any absences can be found on the injuries page.
What are the financial dimensions?
The transfer market operates with enormous sums. For instance, Enzo Fernández transferred from Chelsea to Manchester City for 145 million euros, and Bradley Barcola moved from PSG to FC Liverpool for 125 million euros. Bayern's signing of Luis Díaz is also described as costly, but operates in a different dimension. These investments underline the ambition to keep pace in top European football.
The next challenge for Vincent Kompany's team is the Champions League home match against Bodø/Glimt on Thursday evening.
